Pneumatic-hydraulic power unit



March 1958 H. R. FISCHER ETAL 2,825,206

PNEUMATIC-HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT Filed Dec. 12, 1956 2 5 Sheets-Sheefl INVENTOR.

ATTO R N EY.

March 4, 1958 H. R. FISCHER l z'rAL PNEUMATIC-HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1956 INVENTORSI March 4, 1958 H. R. FISCHER ETAL PNEUMATIC-HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT 5 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 12, 1956 S R O T N E V m 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. R. FISCHER ETAL PNEUMATIC-HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT Filed Dec. 12, 1956 I March 4, 1958 2 ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1958 Filed Dec. 12, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY III t-as i o t a neuma c qo o p Ni;

York, .N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Ap lication December 12, 1956," S1iatNo; '627,843 zoc'laiins. torso-T1) 'This invention concerns a; pneumatic-hydraulic""power In general, it comprises a high sressnr' hydraulic s ystem land a controlled pneumatic system -coope'rable with one another to supply hydraulic-power} and pneur'natic'power in the operations ran associated "device.

While the invention is' subject to 'v'vid'e applicatomdt is of particular use inpowering hydraulc tools; such; as, riyeters, rams, dimplers punchers, crimpers, and other Ieaquiprnent requiring a controlledv so'urtze of"-hydraulic uid.

feature of the invention lies in, certain control area-as whe rebw he actual hydraulic delivery'pressii're' to an ass II dt ool inay be closely regulated. I Another' feature' of the invention lies "in a'n arrangent of a 'pneumatic'hydraulic power unit and aswoi'k ,Iwherein the operation of the power-unit 'rday' -be m' jl bni l ed- A? still fur'ther feature" is provided by a' special coop- "erati ve"association of elements whereby an arrangement finciorpoi-ating the invention will, after it has' be'en initially seqinoperation; continue to operate automaticallytoideliver a controlled hydraulic pressure until" positively stoppedby the; intervention of the operator. I

A further feature of the invention is certain overload safety mechanism which functions to prevent excessive buildup of hydraulic pressure'in the'hydraulic delivery 5 V t I Aceordingly;a'geneital object of this 'i iive'ntion "is to rovide a jfn' ovel and improved umatic'fhydraulic thafisleflicientin; ope ation, practical instruc- I I and suitable for'use' with a wideftan ge-of hydraulic I I, other'object of'theinvention' tp' piovide a-fprahti'cal Ipqwerunit 'having'all offthe foi" I, gfeatur'es. TA 5 ithai i ,of h ,il'n I e terrq i eai'ii si mati c hyd'raulicpower unit having a practical and' eli ii ent pressure control system whereby the hydraulic delivery pressur nay belldsely regulated. II II A Still runner object is to provide a' Jdevice of the fore- .gbin fiat ewhich 'rri'aybe' eonstantlyp I I ,jshop a rpowerj lines which have a clonst ant pressure'of about .90'pounds per s' quare inch. I p

'i ue in fi t l s 'i the p rt I and ovel arrangement of its v'amous .e'ompone "well as in thelr cooperativeassociation with one anotherfto attest-the results intended herein. II I II I The foregoing and otherjobiqtjs and advantagsi of invention will appear more fully hereinafter .frorn a "consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. his to ;be '"eitpressly understood, however, that'the' drawings are tor pufpos'es of illustration and description, and are not to be eonstrued as defining the limits of theinvention.

-In the drawings: a

' us afs'chematic showing of a2 Fewer-unit an associated work tool;

neumatic-hydraulic 2 ?Figs. 2a, 2b and "2c are.continuationszbftone fanother ;and illustrate 4 schematically the different s'compdnents 'of ithe invention; V. t 5 t "l;ig.;3 is anrenlarged:schematiciashowing of 'thelwo'rk 0.0; a or f 'Fig. 4 is an" enlarged; viewrofrthetpiston". return needle :valve, and shows theval've: ZlIl seated condition;

Fig. 5 is an'enlarge'dishowingof the' air==inlet control check valve; a

Fig. 6 is an operated ViBWTdf the'fhydraulic"'pi essure regulator; and I I YFig. 7.is anienlar'ged detail-of thezmechanismffori'setwrin the hydraulic-pressure regulator. lteferenceis now "(llI'CfdlO.i'th ':drawings wherein (Fig. I) there is shownia :pneumatiemydr'aulicfpowerrunit '10 associated with a pneumatic-hydraulic work tool-.11, here illustrated aspariveter. The" tooliis'rer'not'ely located :from the power: units-and is"= connected to "thea'latt rhby (suitable pressure fluid flexible I supply lines, is generally designated 12. The rpower'vunit .includes a ':supporting :wheeled base 13' theinterior' of which (Figs'. '2b;2c)'::pro-

videsa reservoir chamber for "oil sump 14 ;1fo'rmed to I permit air pressurization ofanitoilx supply ISYtherein. The top wall 16 of the base provides azfloor'which sup- :ports' a compact" arrangementiofi elements that "cooperate .with one'another torsupplyoil fromnthe; sump under pressure to drive a'pistonilTofithelworkxtool. :They t further cooperate 1 to cause? a supply: ofcp'ressure 'air to ,return the piston and "efEecLras-a 'co'nsequ'encepa: return flow oftheoilzto sump. .Ar'suitable cover'18, shown in broken line, is attachable to: the -base, andvservestoi house "the elements supported above. the base. The-cover has "a suitable --han'dle 19to enable manual-portage of"the c-power ,unit. 7 v

'Theuarrangement of elements mentioned includes a pressure air distributor or'control assemblyZl, .whiehfis fcause'd to beset in operation by :a .remotely located manually operated trigger .control 22 carried "by the handle of, the work tool. Thereafter, its-operation is automatically controlled by a master hydrauliepressure control regulator 23 until the manual control is released by intervention of the operator, :whereupon operation of the air distributor ceases and further operation of the Work tool immediately stops.-

The hydraulic fluid provided to :drive the'pis'ton "of the work" tool is supplied under pressure tIirOu'gH 'a pneumatically powered hydraulic system, generallyin- 'dicated at 24 (Figs. 1,' 2b,). The pressure'airdistributor functions to distribute pressure airtotp'owetthe hydraulic system in order to effect a work stroke'of th,e, :piston,of the work'tool. :A return stroke of the piston is efrected either as a' result of an automatic operationpof the hy draulic pressure control regulator 23 upon the develop- .mentof an overload hydraulic pressure, or by intervenvtion' of the operator .and release of the manual control 22'- In' t rc e shi q etatiq ii ilzealf distri vassembly 21 will occur, which-will causea shift oi'r ;s ure air from the hydraulic system to thereturn end of the pistonof the work tool. whereupon, r a ic system Will cease functioning as a r e sult of the shift of pressure air, and the shifted airacting on th'e" r'kwill :cause a returnofthe latter well as? I of hy r lic fl id omths o w ia ti e 5? ha tt to sump. The overload pressure at which the I pressure 'controlregulatorautomatically I operate :9 :trolled by associated manually settabl'e means 25' (Figs. '6, 7). f l

In view of the above, amore detailed explanat of the cornp of the n n i e;andn iisa r t t t association with one'another to etlect the operationof' the work tool should now be easierto .follow. I

openend 55 of the valve.

The pressure airdistributor assembly (Figs. 1, 2a, 4, 5)

about'90 p. s. i. air pressure. The pressure air is fed by the air distributor to various elements of the power unit. The air distributor assembly 21 comprises a plurality of cooperating air flow control valves, including a piston return needle valve 31,i an air inlet control, check valve 32, a servo valve 33, and a shift valve 34.

A first lateral 35 to the piston return. needle valve 31 (Figs. 2a, 4) from the main air supply line 26 communicates through a radial port 36 with a cylindrical valve chamber. 37. An output port 38 communicates chamber 37 with a piston returnair feed line 39 connected to an outsideilexible feed line 39 which communicates (Fig. 3) through ports 41 of the work tool with the forward or return end 42 of the piston chamber of the latter. Slidable in valve chamber 37 is the needle valve 31. This has a reduced portion providing a rounded shoulder 43 which normally seats over a passage The latter passage serves to communicate the input line 35 withthe output line 39; and it opens out at its bottom end to atmosphere. .The latter lines 35, 39 are closed off from one another when valve 31 is seated (Fig. 4). A stem 46 continuing from the seat end of valve 31 depends freely through passage 45 and carries fast on its external end a closure 47 for the vent or open end of passage 45'. In the seated condition of the needle valve the closure 47. is clear of the bottom or vent end of passage 45, as in Fig.4. A gate valve, the purpose of which will later appear, is normally open in the line 39.

Now, if we turn the main air supply valve 29 to on position, and leave it that way, pressure air flows through lateral line 35 to the chamber 37 of the needle valve to unseat the latter, as appears in Fig. 2a. This action lifts the closure 47 to seal over the vent end of passage 45, and'communicates line 35 through passage 45 with line'39. whereupon, pressure air flows over the latter line to pressurize the return end 41 of the piston chamber of the work tool.

The inlet control check valve (Figs. 2a, 5)

line to the air disthe cylindrical chamber A second lateral air supply tributor assembly 21 leads to 51 inthe area of an annular reduced nose end 520i the inlet control check valve 32. Valve 32 is cup-form and is slidable in chamber 51. It is spring loaded to seat its nose end 52 over an outlet passage 53', the function of which will later appear in its proper order. Pressure air entering chamber 51 flows about flats 54 of the valve body to a reduced It flows over this open end as well as through nearby radial ports, into a pocket 56of the'valve. The pressure air in the pocket aids a spring 57 therein in holding the nose end of the valve seated over passage 53. The pressure air also flows from about the open end of this valve through a radial port of the chamber into a connected control line 58 which leads through a connected outside flexible line 53 to the chamber of a'check valve 59 associated with the manual trigger control 22 of the work tool (Figs. 2a,

3). Valve 59 is spring loaded to seat over a port 61 which vents by a passage 62 to atmosphere. A trigger 63 has. a shank portion mounted by pin and slot ele-.

ments 64 for sliding movement in a recess of the handle 65 of the work tool. Alpin .66 extending from the triggers shank projects freely into the larger diameter port 61 and abuts inoperatively-against the spring loaded check valve 59. Pressing the trigger will unseat the valve and vent line 58 to atmosphere. l

space provided about a 4 Servo valve (Fig. 2a)

A third lateral 67 off the main air supply line to the air distributor 21 leads through a reduced radial port 68 to the mid-area of a cylindrical chamber 69 in which the servo valve 33 slides. Valve 33 has a position in Fig. 2a at one end of its chamber where a beveled nose end 71 seals over an exit port 72, and where a nearby peripheral surface of the valve seals over an inlet port 73 connected with the passage 53. When valve 33 is in its opposite position, ports 73 and 72 are in communication with each other through the valve chamber. The functions of ports 73 and 72 will appear later in their proper order. The inlet port 68 constantly registers through a peripheral groove about the valve body with an outlet port 75, Whether the valve be at one end of its charm her or the other. The peripheral groove communicates radially with a pocket 76 in the valve, whereby air pressure caused to build up in the pocket holds the valve in its leftward position.

The outlet port 75 from the servo valve chamber is of larger diameter than the inlet port 63 and leads by a control line77 to the upper chamber 75 of the master hydraulic pressure control regulator 23.

Master pressure control regulator (Figs. 2a, 6, 7)

The master pressure control regulator 23 has :1 normal position as in Fig. 2a wherein a crowned piston member 79 slidable inthe upper chamber 78 is loaded by a return coil spring 81 so as to seat uponan annular shoulder 82, formed due to a reduced lower or venting chamber 83. An O-seal ring 84 is provided in the periphery of the. brim portion of piston 79. Pressure fluid entering the upper chamber '78 over control line 77 from the servo valve 33 further loads the piston 79 upon its shoulder; Disposed in the lower chamber is a heavy coil spring 85, the upper end of which abuts the ceiling wall in the recess of the crown of the piston member 79.. The bottom end of the lower chamber 83 is'sealed by a fixed plug or bushing 36. Resting upon the fiat top surface of this plug is a flanged base 37 of a ball pusher. The bottom end of the heavy spring 85 bests on this base, while a reduced cyliudricalboss or 'body 88 extends from the base up into the central area threadedly engaged at its upper portion 92 in a complementary neck piece 93 of the bonnet. The lower section of the stem 91 slide fits through a short section of .the neck piece 93 and then extends first freely through narrow recess 94 of the upper chamber, then through the upper chamber78, and next, it slide fits through the crown of the piston into the recess and lower chamber 83 below.

Opening out of the bottom end of stem 91 is a counterbore 95 which accommodates a steel ball check valve 96.

Pressure air entering the upper chamber 78 of the pressure regulator flows into the recess 94 and passes through radial ports 97 into the counterbore of the stem wherein it is, blocked from escaping into the venting chamber 83 by the seated check valve. A pilot rod 99 carried by the boss 88 of the ball pusher projects axially upward in line with the ball valve 96. A drive rod 101 projects with a slide fit through theplug 85 and packing therein. The upper end of the drive rod extends into a recess 102 formed in the underside of the ball pusher. The lower end of'the drive rod projects freely through a hole 103 oi larger diameter into a hydraulic pressure control chamber 194 below, wherein it rests upon a stainless steel ball 195 that is seated upon a coil spring 106. The latter is retained at its lower portion in the recess of a plug 107 .which seals the bottom end of the pressure chamber. Ball has a diameter slightly less than that of its? chamber. Hydraulic pressure is caused to build up in the chamber :104 in a. manner that will be later dc- 91. latter isreadable against a O-rnark 11 4 carried ,on an indicator ring 115 fixed, as by a set screw 116 to a reduced surface of a collar member 117. The latter sleeves n 3 of th n et hOy Th interna a of thecollar has a spiral channel 118 which is adapted to scribed. It is plain, that itihen 'an 6 load pressure 'builds up-in chamber 104, ball"1'05. will'rise and lift the drive rod 101. The latter will project the pilot rod 99 "againstthe load of spring 85thro1igh the'lar'g'er diameter seat opening of the check valve. 96 "and war unseat the latter. Consequent to this actio'n,pressure1'air in'the .upper chamber 93 of the-pressurecontrolregulatorIwill -flow-through valve 96 into the'lower venting chamber and will exhaust through a side ventfl08.

The overload hydraulic. pressure req'uiredto bef built up in the. pressure control chamber '104 to effect a release ofvalve 96 can be closely?r,egulat.ed... Threading;stem

91'further out of the bonnet 89. of the vregulatorjivill lift the-ball valve 96 further above. the pilot element 99 and, accordingly, a: greater hydraulic pressure :will .be refquire'd to raise the pilot elementagainst the load of the heavyrcoil spring 85 to'unseat thevalve...

The up or down position of the stem 91 carrying'the valve 96 can be closely regulated and. set bya control knob '1 09 (Fig. 7) fixed by a seat screw lll toanupper end 113 projecting above thethreaded portion, of stem This knob carries a rnicrometerscale 112 The stem 93 can be moved out of thebonnet will be determined by the adjusted position of the collar 117. Upon engagement of the upper shoulder of the threads? 92 with the overhanging radial flange '121, upward 'rnovenie'nt of the stem member 91 will be limited; upon engagement of the shoulder of the lowerend of t'he thread s '92 v the internal neck shoulder 1'23, downward movement" will be limited. I The control knob 109 maybeadju'st'edso that it'sfzero point'will align with the zero maxi-14' ofthieiindicator ring when the stem 91 has beeiif-thfeadedtoitsdow ward limit. The adjusted position'of the'kiio "b i the set screw 111. The steni91fmayi outward or return direction byimanujally 109. The consequent spacing ofjthe the pilot rod 99 may be read oif H 112. At zero adjustment, thecheckball '96 W1 R and its underside will be immediately"abbvej 'the'pilot member, as in Fig. 2a. A selected 'adjustedposition of the stern member 91 may 'be fixed by locking the knob 169m its adjusted positionto theneck 93 'of thebonnet.

Thisis enabled by a thumb screw 1241Which is threaded in the top end of stem 91. This screw'hasa dependingiextension 125 which is adapted to'camfa'frictiqi element 126, radially disposed in a slot of he tsm,iin s11 ed engagement with'the inner wall of the flanged end 121 'of J the neck 93 of the bonnet.

Main shift valve (Fig. 2a) A fourth lateral 127 from the main air, supply line The collarh'a's at its' upper end a radially r d a'j .p rt-. c m nunta si i rr 9 6 above nemes s .valvefelerneptil Below. output port [131 is lanfexhaust 'port l fi t' i "and p rn ns 138, .139 of communicates by ,a' radial en andpais sage, 1411s; at port, 72 offthe fser vov valve c has an annular groove 14 7 abou't i'ts mid.-

0 pd oe p .largedlradially. The enlarge h'amber .69. ,{It also veiitsiby bleeder holeQ142- Ito. atm phe're. he ienlargementlw at. the. lower end of the chamber mtinieategey apassage 143 with, passage 53.. The latteris ve'nted mg a bleede r hole 1.4.4. Shallow wells 145, 146 are provided nbpp ds f hamb 12 I Slidablein the chambe'r129is the shift has a hollow interior providing fafpocket whi at. the bo tom-end b a wall. 14.8,v andul hfbn fi through the rpg ite a i a a l h s-La i ti s1ot 149. A coil "sprihgflSLloade'd in -jth e pocket of the valve seats the end wall148 'upon a shoulder .fd med about theend well 14.6, A spring guiderod 152 is d isposed centrally of the spring, The guide rod lisprovide d' .with a head at one end which rests upon the end ofthe spring. and., is...disposed in the shallow upper end .well .145. In this. position of valve 34 its surface seals .over th press reairii et1 0K128 h l. t e qoved se 147 communicates the exhaiist port 137. with t'he hydraulic system main air feed line 132 and also with the passage 135 leading to the pocket end of the needle valve chamber .37. Eurther,.,in this. normalposition of the Shift valve .34 he W l -r d insmeeqdse 1.4.8 is in communication .with'. passage .143 .thrdfigh the crossslot 149.jand .space139- When valye 34 is shifted to the air distributor assembly 21 connectsbyaradial theoutput port 131, and also-communicating.withthe latter by an internal annular groove in chamber 129,152

to its npperp0sition, the. groove section .147 or the valve communicates the inputline 127 .with the oiitputlines "132, 135. Despite the .upward. .movd. position ofpthe valve, the pocket 15 0 thereof. will continue .to bash communication with the passage .141 connected to, the

servo valve, due toasligjht clearance that willremain atthe upper end of the valve. A slight notch153 may if desired, be provided transversely of the rim of the valve.

Initiating pumping ope rdtion rera matappease 2 h hemm fails as described above, operation of the entire syst is initiated by depressing the trigger 63 at the handle of the work .t0ol, .and. holding -itdepressed. This pnseats the trigger check valve 59 and vents the control air lines '58, 58f toatmosphere, thereby relair'iiig back pressure 'on the air inlet control check valve 32.- Where- 'iipom-iritake air from lat'eralli'ne 49 unseats the latter,

new: into passage 53- and th'r-o ugh p a'ssage 143- and end 'slot' 159 to the well 146. Here, it builds up and forces "the shift valve 34 to its iipper position. Pressure air thereupon flows from the lateral intake line 127 and about the groove 147 of the shift valve to the pocket 136 above the needle valve 31. This reseats the latter and cuts as flow over lines 39p 39' to the return end of the piston chamber of the work tooh- -Pressure air the latter chamber; relieves over line 39 and vent pas- 5145 to atmosphere. lPressure air-also flows from the take. line127 seem; the groove of the shift valve '34 to the main output 'or feed line 132; This latter feeds thehydraulie system 24 with" pressure air so -as to effect pressurizationof thepil in the sump .14, consequent oil fiowt'o apair of compression' chambers154; 155, and

subsegue'nt 'puinpihg of ,the oil from thelatterthrough various" passages toari output li'rie'156'and a connected ont'side fl'e ziibleline .156 which feeds the oil to the rear or drive end 157 of the piston chamber of the tool.

Hydraulic p'i'esstlrz'zdt ion'ciizd pitmp system i 20, 2b, 2c) r 7 Aititi ins issi'rm the stats feed "ii'ii "15210 'check valve 159 into the sump chamber. surization of the latter causes oil to rise through a pair 'of pipes 161, 162 which respectively lead through check valves 163, 164 to the separate compression chambers 154, 155.

7 the hydraulic system feeds pressure air through a sump Resulting pres- Suitable oil filters 165 are fitted in pipes 161,

162, Compression chamber 154 connects through a check valve 166 with a line 167 which leads radially to the hydraulic pressure control chamber 104.

Compression chamber 155 connects by a similar check valve '168 with a line 169 which also leads radially into the pressure control chamber. While it is possible for both lines 167, 169 to merge and empty by a common line into the pressure control chamber 104, here however, two separate lines are provided. The control chamber has a reduced upper section 103 which freely surrounds a section of the pilot drive rod 101 and connects radially with the hydraulic output line 156 leading to the drive and 157 of the piston chamber of the work tool. Return oil ilow from the work tool and hydraulic out- Return control valve The return control valve 173 has an elongated stem 176 which slide fits through the body of the valve block.

177 and projects at its upper end through a suitable seal pack 178 into an enlarged air pressurization chamber 179. A large piston 181 carried on the upper end of the valve stem works in this chamber. A return spring 182 acting on the underside of the piston normally holds the latter in its uppermost or raised position so that the valve is normally raised from port 183, whereby the return lines 171,174 are normally open to sump.

A second lateral 184 from the pressure air feed line to the hydraulic system connects with the head end of the piston chamber 179 of the return flow control valve 173. Pressure air fed to this head end seats the return valve over port 183 and shuts oil return flow to sump.

Pump and pump control valve (Figs. 2b,

A third lateral line 185 from line 132 feeds pressure air to operate an hydraulic pump 180 (Fig. 2c). A pump control valve 186 is provided to efiect automatic reciprocating pumping action of the pump. The pump inciudcs a piston 187which reciprocates in a chamber 188. Axialiy extending from the work end of the piston is a ram rod 189 which is slidablej through a bushing 191 of a supporting block 192 into the compression chamber 154. Movement of the ram rod into chamber 154 rams oil from the latter through the upper check valve 166 into the line 167 leading to the pressure control chamber 104. A coil spring 193 serves to return the piston. The lateral air feed line 185 connects through a radial port 194 and an internal annular recess with the chamber 190 of the pump control valve. Opposite port 194 is an outlet port 195 which connects by a common passage 196 with a relatively reduced orifice 197 leading to a slightly radially enlarged end 198 of the valve chamher. Common passage 196 also connects at its opposite end by a second reduced orifice 199 with a similarly radially enlarged opposite end 201 of the valve chamber. A little above inlet, port 194 an outlet port 202 connects by a piston feed passage 203 with the head end of pump chamber 138. An exhaust for the piston feed passage 203 is provided by a'port 204 venting the pump control valve chamber. Control valve 186 slides in chamber 190.

Piston pump slide valve (Fig. 2c)

Axially extending from the head end of the pumps piston 187 and unitary therewith is a slide valve 205. The

latter reciprocates through a bushing 206 which extends partway into a chamber 207. The chamber space rear- Wardly of the bushing is vented by a passage 208. The enlarged end space 198 of the pump control valve chamber connects by a radial port 209 and a passage with a radial port 211 through the right end of the slide valve bushing 206, while the opposite end space enlargement 201 connects by a radial port 212 and a passage with a radial port 213 through the left end of the slide valvc bushing. The slide valve has an internal axial bore 214 which opens at one end by radial ports and a peripheral groove 215, and at the other end by radial ports 216. In the returned position of the piston (Fig. 2c) the peripheral groove 215 of the slide valve registers with the radial port 213, and the radial ports 216 at the end of the slide valve register with the vent 208; while the body surface of the valve closes over the radial port 211. In this position of the slide valve the space 201 at one end of the pump control valve chamber is vented, and the opposite end 198 is closed from vent. In the driven position of the pumps piston 187, the body of the slide valve 205 closes over port 213 and the end of the slide valve is drawn clear of radial port 211, so that the vented condition of end enlargements 201, 198 of the pump control valve chamber is reversed.

Pump operation Now, in the operation of pump 180, pressure air fed to the pump control valve chamber flows about the groove 217 to the piston feed line 203 and also through the common passage 196 to the ends 198, 2:11 of the chamoer. Air fed to the end 201 vents through the slide valve 205, while air pressure builds up in the pocket 198 at the opposite end, thus holding the control valve 186 in its present position. The air fed to piston 13', causes the latter to move and ram oil from the compression chamber 14 past the check valve 166 and through the pressure control chamber 104 to the output line 156 leading to the rear end of the piston chamber of the tool, causing a work stroke of the latter. As the piston 137 moves, it carries the slide valve 205 with it. At the end of the piston stroke the slide valve closes from vent the end 201 of the con trol valve chamber, and opens the opposite end 198 to vent. Accordingly, air pressure builds up at the end 201 of the control valve, and reverses the position of the latter. This cuts off the input and output piston air feed lines 185, 203 from eachother, and the groove 21.7 connects the piston feed line 203 with vent 25M; whereupon spring 193 acts to restore the piston. As the piston restores, the condition of the control valve 1.36 is automatically reversed by action of the returned slide valve 205', and the pump cycle repeats itself.

A fourth lateral line 200 leads off the air feed line 132 and connects to a second hydraulic pump 218. This pump is identical in structure and arrangement to the other, so that both pumps operate simultaneously to pump oil through the control chamber 204 to the output line 156.

It is obvious that one of the pump control valves 136, 186' could be positioned in its chamber so that it would have at the start of operations a position reversed to that of the other. By this arrangement, it is plain that by the time pressure air operates on the reversed valve and reverses its position so that pressure air may be fed to the associated pumps piston, the other piston will have already begun to move. In this manner, the pumping action of the second pump will log a little behind that of the first, and a steady stream of pressurized oil will be pumped into the pressure control chamber 104.

Discontinuance of pump operations The pumping operations of the hydraulic system will continue automatically until the operating air supply from "ape-since 9 the "airdistributorasseiribly'i's cutofi. This maybe'done by releasing the trigger control 63; or it willoccurwhen an overload pressure develops in the hydraulic "output lines and causes the'master res'sare'regulator'zs tofeffect an automatic cut-off of pressure'air flow fr 'om'the distributor assembly to the hydraulic system.

An overload in the'hydraulic' system occurs whenever the hydraulic pressure therein rises to a value required'to lift the pilot rod 99 sufiiciently to unseat the release check valve 96. When the latter-action occurs, pressure air in the upper'cham'b'er 78 of the regulator escapes about ball valve 96 to vent. This relaxes'the backpressure on the servo valve 33 of the air distributor. Air feeding into the pocket 76 of the servo valve from the lateral line 67 then tends to force this relaxedval-ve from its seat 72, and pressure air in passage 53 acting on the beveled nose end 71 of the valve shifts the valve and flows through ports 73, '72 and passage 141 to the upper end and pocket of the shift valve chamber 129. Some of this air vents through port 142. Passage 53 is of relatively greater diameter than passage 143 so that the opening of passage 53 to the upper end of the shift valve chamber vents the underside 146 of the shift valve 129, whereupon spring 151 shifts or returns the latter to its lower position, This action seals the pressure air intake line 127 off from the output line 132, and communicates the latter and its connected lateral feed lines through the groove of theshift valve to vent 137; whereupon operating pressure air flow to the hydraulic system is cut off and the latter ceases to operate.

As the pressure air in the lateralfeed line 158 to the sump check valve 159 is vented, the greater pressure of air in the sump 14 unseats a slide body 219 which contains the check valve 159, and escapes through the side vents 221 in the housing of the slide body. As the pressure air vents from the chamber 179 of the return flow control valve 173, the latter under the action of the return spring 182 opens the'oil return lines 171, 174 to sump. When the air distributor valve 129 shifts, as above, air feed to the pocket 136 of theneedle valve 31 ceases and the pocket thereof is connected to the vent 137. This action causes the needle valve 31 to unseat under pressure of air flow over the lateral line 35, whereupon pressure air feeds over the return line-39 to effect pressurized return of the tool piston 17' and consequently, a quick return of hydraulic fluid through the output lines to sump.

Though the pressure air in regulator valve 23 has been released to vent due to the-overload'action, air continues to flow from line 67" through the servo valve and over line 77 to the upper chamber 78; so that, as soon as the overload in the hydraulic lines is sufliciently relaxed the pilot rod 99 will restore and the upper chamber 73 of the regulator valve will again become pressurized. Consequent upon this latter action, the servo valve closes over ports 73,72, thepressure air in the upper end 138 of the shift valve chamber relieves-through the vent 142,

Brent the return retains s9 'will'lbe re urned to hasten position so as to prevent "an unnecessaryflow of 'return "airfro'r'n the needle valve 311 to the return end ofthe piston chamber. A

While an embodiment of t-heinvention has --beenil1ustrated and described'in detail, it is to he expressly understood that ithefirivention'is notlimited thereto. Various jskilled' in the art;"1andit'isour intent, therefore, to claim the'invent'ion'not only as shown and described herein .but also in all such forms and modificationsas "may he reasonably construed to "fall within the spiritof the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What'is claimed is; v -l. A pneumatic 'hydraulic power unit for powering a work piston by'hydraulic fluidto effect a work 's trdke,

and flow in passage 53 is diverted'to the underside'146 of the shift valve 12?. The latter thereupon again shifts, the needle valve 31 again unseats, and thehydraulic system is again pressurized to operate the tool, as long as valve 59 to closed position. This action will, as is evident from the earlier description of the inlet control check valve 32, reseat the latter over passage 53 and thereby cut off pressure air to the underside '146 of the shift valve, whereupon air pressure on the underside of the latter will vent from passages 143, 53 through port 144. The coilspringlfil will thereupon act to shift the valve 129 to its lowerposition and the actions of the hydraulic system and cycling of the piston of the tool will cease; and soon, as explained above. p

The power unit described above may also be'used with hydraulically driven piston tools of the spring return type. In tools of this type the normally open gate valve "and for 'returningthepiston by pressure air, comprising: a'hy'draulic pump operable 'by'pressure air to force hydraulic fluid aga'in'st the head end of the piston; pressure air distribution means having two operating conditions, being effective in 'onecondition to supply pressure air to operate the hydraulic pump and being"etfective inthe other condition to'cut'off the pressure air supply to the pump and to supply it to the forward 'end of the piston to effect a return stroke of the latter; and control 'means provided for efiecting a "shift in the operating conditions of the distribution means from one condition to the other.

2. In apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the distribution means is characterized by a shift valve slidable in a chamber and having one position in the chamber where it cuts on flow of operating pressure air to the hydraulic pump and supplies it to the forward end of the piston and having a reverse second position in the chamber where it cuts 'otf flow of operating pressure air to the forward end of the piston and supplies it to the hydraulic pump.

3 In apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the shift valve is spring loaded in its first position and is seated over a pressure well adapted to receive a. supply of pressure air to shift the valve against the spring load to the second position.

4. In apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the shift valve is spring loaded in its first position and is seated over a pressure air buildup well adapted to receive a supply of pressure air to shift the valve against the spring load to the second position, and the control means serves to control flow of pressure'air to the pressure well.

5. In apparatus as in claim 1,- wherein the control -means is operatively associated with manually operable main control means.

6. In apparatus as in claim 1, wherein means is provided for effecting operation of the control means at willand other means is provided for effecting automatic operation thereof in response to an overload pressure in the hydraulic fluid output from the pump.

7. A pneumatic-hydraulic power unit for supplying operating hydraulic fluid to one end of a Work piston at one time and for supplying operating pressure air to the opposite end of the piston at another time, comprising: a hydraulic system operable by pressure'air to force hydraulic fluid against the one end of the piston; pressure air distribution rne'ans having two operating condi tions, being effective in one con'ditionto supply pressure air to operate the hydraulic system and being effective in the other for cutting the pressure air supply oflf from the hydraulic system and feeding it to the opposite end of the work piston, control means for effecting a shift in the operating conditions of the distribution means from one condition to the othennzeans associated with thecontrol means andbeing responsive to an overload pressure in the operating hydraulic fluid to actuate the control means to eflect a shift operation of the distribution means so as to cut oh. the supply of operating pressure air to the hydraulic system, and means operable in response to a cut-off of pressure air supply to the hydraulic system to effect a return flow of hydraulic fluid from the Work piston to the hydraulic system.

8. A pneumatic-hydraulic power unit to supply operating hydraulic fluid to one end of a work piston at one time, and for cutting off the supply of hydraulic fluid to the piston and supplying operating pressure air to the opposite end of the piston at another time, comprising a sump, a hydraulic system operable by pressure air to force hydraulic fluid from the sump to one end of the piston, pressure air distribution means having two operating conditions and being effective in one condition to supply pressure air to operate the hydraulic system and being efiective in the other for cutting ofl the pressure air supply to the hydraulic system and feeding it to the opposite end f the work piston, control means for effecting a shift in the operating conditions of the distribution means from one condition to the other, overload check valve means associated with the control means and being responsive to an overload pressure in the hydraulic system to actuate the control means to effect a shift in the operating condition of the pressure air distribution means so as to cut off the supply of pressure air to the hydraulic system, and means operable in response to a cut-ofl of pressure air supply to the hydraulic system to effect a return flow of hydraulic fluid from the work piston to sump.

9. In the apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the hydraulic system includes check valve means for admitting pressure air to pressurize hydraulic fluid in the sump, a plurality of compression chambers for receiving pressurized fluid from the sump through associated pipe line means, a common feed line from the chambers to the one end of the Work piston, and a pressure air operated pump associated with each compression chamber for driving the fluid therefrom into the common feed line.

10. In the apparatus as in claim 9, wherein air control means are provided in the hydraulic system to control the flow of pressure air to the pumps and are arranged for operation of the pumps in lagging relation to one another.

l]. in a combination, including a pneumatic hydraulic system having an hydraulic output line, an hydraulic overload pressure responsive device, and a pressure air distribution device arranged to distribute pressure air to the overload pressure responsive device and operating pressure air to the hydraulic system and adapted to shut off the flow of operating pressure air to the hydraulic system when the flow to the pressure responsive device is vented, an hydraulic overload pressure responsive device comprising an hydraulic pressure control chamber connected in the hydraulic output line, a pressure air receiving chamber connected to the air pressure distribution device, a pressure air venting chamber, a check valve sealing otf communication of the pressure air receiving chamber from the venting chamber, and means actuable by an overload pressure of hydraulic fluid in the pressure control chamber to unseat the check valve so as to communicate the pressure air receiving chamber with the pressure air venting chamber.

12. In a combination as in claim 11, wherein the venting chamber is disposed in axial alignment with and lietween the hydraulic pressure control and pressure air receiving chambers, a bushing seals of: the venting chamher from the control chamber, a piston for unseating the check valve is slidable in the bushing and projects in part to a particular position in the control chamber and in part through the venting chamber in close proximity to the check valve, and the piston is adapted to be actuated by an overload pressure of hydraulic fluidin the control chamber to unseat the check valve. I

13. In a combination as in claim 12, wherein a yieldable load restrains actuation of the piston by the hydraulic 12 fluid in the control chamber until the pressure of the hydraulic fluid is of a value suflicient to overcome the restraining load.

14. In a combination as in claim 12, wherein the check valve is adjustable to a plurality of selective positions away from the piston, so that the distance the piston must be moved to unseat the check valve is dependent on the adjusted position of the check valve.

15. In a combination as in claim 14, wherein the check valve comprises a ball member having a seat in a movable housing and external manual means is provided for moving the housing and as a consequence the ball relatively to the piston.

16. In a combination as in claim 15, wherein indicator means is carried externally by the movable housing for indicating the adjusted position of the ball member relative to the piston.

17. An hydraulic pressure responsive device comprising a housing having an hydraulic pressure control chamber adapted to be connected in the output line of a hydraulic pumping system, a pressure air venting chamber sealed off from the latter chamber, and a control pressure air receiving chamber in communication with the venting chamber, the receiving chamber being adapted for connection to a control pressure air line of control mechanism that is operable to terminate operations of the hydraulic pumping system upon venting of the control pressure air line, valve means normally sealing the air receiving chamber oil from the venting chamber, and means associated with the valve means and actuable by pressure of hydraulic fluid from the output line develop ing above a predetermined value in the hydraulic pressure control chamber to unseal the valve means so as to communicate the air receiving chamber and as a consequence the control pressure air line with the venting chamber.

18. A device as defined in claim 17, wherein the three chambers are disposed one above the other in axial alignment, the venting chamber being located between the other two and below the receiving chamber, an elongated piston is slidably supported in the housing between the venting chamber and the hydraulic pressure control chamher and extends axially from the latter chamber into the venting chamber, the valve means comprises an elongated stem, the lower portion of which stem fits seal tight through an opening between the receiving chamber and the venting chamber and has a recess opening radially out of its upper end into the receiving chamber and opening axially out of its lower end into the venting chamber, a ball valve freely movable in the recess and seated there in over the lower end opening, the stem member having a position wherein the ball valve is above and in close proximity to the free end of the piston, and the latter is adapted upon an overload pressure developing in the hydraulic pressure control chamber to displace the ball valve from its seat so as to communicate the receiving chamber with the venting chamber.

l9. A device as defined in claim 18, wherein the upper end of the stem is threadedly engaged in a neck portion of the housing and an externally projecting end of the stem is manually turnable whereby the stem may be threaded in or out of the neck of the housing so as to adjust the proximity of the ball valve relative to the piston.

20. A device as in claim 19, wherein the external end f the stem carries a turn-knob having indicia thereon readable against marking on the exterior of the housing whereby the adjusted position of the ball valve relative to the piston may be determined.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

